Greg McCoy, a woodworker and former TAFE instructor, has been sharing his skills at Orrvale Primary School, where he has worked as a woodworking instructor for the past two years.
What began as a single woodwork session gradually turned into a regular teaching role, eventually leading to Mr McCoy joining the school staff.
“They say, when you love your job, you never work a day in your life,” Mr McCoy said.
“Sandy Farrell was teaching my granddaughter at the time, and she suggested one woodwork session.
“It’s only going to be a 1-hour session on one day.
“And then she said, ‘Oh, could you do it again?’
“I said, ‘Well, I’m retired.’
“So I said, ‘Yeah, I’ll do it again.’”
After this, Mr McCoy began offering weekly woodworking sessions.
“But then it got to the point where, once I was employed, I decided, ‘Oh well, I’ll do it three days a week.’”
In his role, Mr McCoy teaches students through a variety of projects, ranging from birdhouses to toolboxes and periscopes.
At the beginning of the year, he proposed a new fundraising idea—building a cubby house with help from the students.
“I suggested (to the principal), as a fundraiser, to build a cubby and have some of the students help me build it, to give them an alternative,” Mr McCoy said.
“To raise funds for the school.”
The project began in February, initially planned to unfold over 12 months. However, it progressed faster than anticipated, thanks to contributions from local businesses.
“Started with the sub-floor, and then it's just grown from there,” Mr McCoy said.
Orrvale Primary School Business Manager Rachel Del Mastro reached out to local businesses for support, resulting in donations of materials and supplies from Moretto Building, Bowen’s, Dulux Trade Centre, InfraBuild Steel Centre, Wayne Anstice, Construct Ramsay Insulation, FiPro, and Nathan McCoy.
These contributions enabled the construction of the cubby house, which Mr McCoy estimated would cost between $8,000 and $10,000 if built for a private client.
When asked about the most memorable part of building the cubby house, student Demi McMahon said:
“Getting to learn how to build with wood, and having friends and an instructor there to help us.”
For Austin Dennis, it was all about the creative potential:
“I just like putting the wood together and be able to make lots of things,” he said.
“There's so many things you can make with just wood and where you are.”
Meanwhile, Bailey Cheyne found the process of assembling the structure to be the most fulfilling part of the experience.
For the fundraiser, raffle tickets are priced at $10, with proceeds directed toward school improvements.
This effort follows other fundraising activities, such as a recent mini-fair where students participated in various activities to raise money.
The winner of the raffle will be announced on December 12 during the school’s concert.